In recent years, porcelain pavers have gained significant popularity in the landscape paver market, thanks in part to their ability to closely replicate the look of traditional decking and landscaping materials—such as natural stone, like bluestone. Both porcelain pavers and natural stone offer unique benefits, so choosing one over the other often depends on specific project requirements and design preferences. In this blog post, we’ll compare the pros and cons of these two paving options across several key factors to help you determine which is the best fit for your project.
Material Composition
Bluestone Pavers: In the USA, natural bluestone is primarily known as a fine-grained sandstone sourced from quarries in Pennsylvania and New York and characterized by its grey-blue color. ‘Pennsylvania Bluestone’ is a unique sandstone found only in NE Pennsylvania. In Australia however, bluestone is a fine-grained extrusive igneous rock otherwise known there as basalt. In both cases, the stone features a dense tightly bound structure, making it particularly durable and resistant to wear.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers, on the other hand, are man-made. They are created from a mixture of clay, sand, and other natural materials that are fired at very high temperatures to produce a dense, durable, non-porous product. Porcelain pavers are digitally printed using a combination of wet and dry pigments which can very faithfully replicate the look of not just natural stone, but wood and even concrete. The range of colors and styles increases each year such that there is now an exceptionally wide range of styles and colors available to meet practically any landscaping need.
Aesthetic Appeal
Bluestone Pavers: Bluestone is highly valued for its natural beauty. Its color range includes shades of blue, gray, brown and purple, giving it a unique, earthy appearance. Because it is a natural product, each bluestone paver is slightly different, so when pavers are laid, it creates a distinctive, natural look for bluestone patios, pathways, or pool surrounds where every installation will look slightly different. Bluestone pavers work well in both traditional and rustic settings, adding an organic, timeless aesthetic to any space.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers offer a broader range of design possibilities because of their exceptionally broad range of color options. Apart from imitating the look of natural bluestone, porcelain pavers are available in a very extensive range, replicating the look of stone from all around the world. So you’re not limited to using quarried stone from your local region or country, thus offering much more extensive options where natural bluestone might not meet the full aesthetics of your landscape project.
Porcelain pavers generally display a more consistent color and pattern across a complete project since typically, specific paver colors will be produced in a maximum to 10 or so different ‘faces’.
The following example of Archatrak ‘Pennstone’ porcelain pavers illustrates their similarity to natural bluestone. With this color, the manufacturer offers two styles of pavers. ‘True Blue’ features primarily grey tones with minimal rust like tones and coloring and is textured in a ‘Thermal pattern’. ‘Full color‘ features a much broader palette of color and is textured in a ‘Cleft’ pattern. In stone terminology, a ‘cleft’ finish is where the paver has been split along natural fault lines resulting in a slightly rough texture with distinct raised and sunken areas. A ‘thermal’ finish is where the paver is sawn and then undergoes a heating process that creates a smooth, consistent surface.
Versatility in Design
Bluestone Pavers: Pavers are typically used for bluestone patios, sidewalks, garden paths, steps, pool coping, driveways, and much more. Natural bluestone pavers come in a wide range of both sizes and thicknesses, allowing for customization to suit most designs or layouts. They can complement both modern and traditional settings, adding an elegant and timeless touch to any space. They can also be cut into smaller and thinner bluestone tiles for interior flooring.
Porcelain Pavers: Although the sizes available in porcelain pavers are somewhat at the whim of the manufacturer, they are now available in a broad range of sizes, even as large as 48” x 96”. The vast majority of colors and styles are only supplied as 2cmm thick porcelain pavers, but a somewhat more limited range of 3cm thick pavers are also available from European suppliers. Even 5cm thick pavers are available in cobblestone blocks and cobblestone paver styles.
Porcelain pavers which look like bluestone are not just restricted to the look of Pennsylvania Bluestone. For example, shown below are other colors in the Archatrak color range which have a somewhat ‘bluestone’ look.
Durability and Strength
Bluestone Pavers: Bluestone is a naturally dense and hard material, which makes it highly durable and able to withstand heavy foot traffic and extremes of weather conditions. It is well-suited for commercial high-traffic areas like bluestone pavements or sidewalks and outdoor installations like plazas and public walkways that require long-term resilience. However, while bluestone pavers are very strong, they can still be susceptible to chipping or cracking under extreme impact.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers are also highly durable due to their high-temperature manufacturing process. They are non-porous, which makes them particularly resistant to stains, mold, and mildew. Porcelain is also exceptionally resistant to fading and color change. However, porcelain is generally as not impact resistant as bluestone of the same thickness and is also susceptible to chipping.
Maintenance Needs
Bluestone Pavers: Bluestone pavers are relatively low maintenance. Their natural composition makes them resistant to weathering and fading. However, bluestone paving is somewhat porous and to preserve the appearance of pavers and prevent them from accumulating stains, dirt, and moss, sealing periodically is advisable. Bluestone may also require cleaning from time to time, especially in areas with heavy moss or algae growth.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers are extremely easy to maintain. Because they are non-porous, stains, oils, and other contaminants are less likely to penetrate the surface. A simple wash with water and mild soap is usually sufficient to keep them looking new. Moss and algae are also easier to remove. Porcelain pavers do not require sealing, and their color and texture remain consistent over time without fading.
Slip Resistance
Blue stone Pavers: One of the advantages of bluestone pavers is their granular texture, which provides good slip resistance. This makes them such a good option for bluestone pavements, bluestone patios, pool areas and walkways where safety is a priority. However, in certain conditions, such as wet or icy weather, even bluestone pavers can become slippery, especially if they are polished.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers for exterior use and especially for bluestone pavements or sidewalks, normally have a textured finish and often a degree of surface roughness, so can offer good traction. In general however, natural bluestone offers greater slip resistance, especially in wet conditions.
Paver Cost
Blue stone Pavers: Natural bluestone is generally considered a premium material so typically will be somewhat more expensive than porcelain pavers. The cost can vary depending on the quarry location, size, and thickness of the pavers. The price reflects the quality, rarity, and labor-intensive process of quarrying natural stone.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers are normally more affordable than natural bluestone but labor costs for installation can vary depending on the complexity of the layout.
Environmental Impact
Natural Bluestone: As a natural material, bluestone is considered environmentally friendly. It is sourced from quarries, and while the extraction process does have an environmental impact, it is generally more sustainable compared to the production of synthetic materials. Since bluestone is highly durable, it thus has a long lifespan and will require fewer paver replacements over time.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers are manufactured via an energy-intensive process which may have a higher environmental impact compared to natural stone. However, many manufacturers are adopting more sustainable practices, such as using recycled materials and reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, porcelain’s long lifespan and low maintenance requirements can help offset its environmental impact.
Installation
Natural Bluestone: Blue stone pavers are relatively easy to install, but because they are made from natural stone, they may require more time and expertise to ensure proper placement and alignment. They can be installed over concrete with mortar for bluestone patios or dry-laid over sand, but pavers of normal thickness are not suitable for laying on a pedestal system for roof decks because natural imperfections in the stone like hairline fractures can reduce their flexural strength.
Porcelain Pavers: Porcelain pavers are also generally easy to install. They can be dry laid on sand or gravel beds, either fixed with mortar or supported by rubber support pads over concrete, and also installed with a pedestal paver system for elevated rooftop decks. Since porcelain pavers are lighter than bluestone, they are easier to bring on site and handle during installation.
Summary
Both natural bluestone and porcelain pavers offer unique advantages in exterior landscaping, patio flooring, pedestrian plazas, pavements and walkways and the best choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, design preferences, and budget.
Bluestone paving is a great option for those seeking a natural, timeless look with excellent durability and slip resistance, particularly in traditional or rustic landscaping designs.
Porcelain pavers offer an exceptionally wide range of modern design possibilities, are low-maintenance, and are highly resistant to staining and fading, making them ideal for contemporary spaces and areas with high exposure to weather elements.
By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each material, you can make an informed decision that enhances the beauty and functionality of your outdoor spaces.